Improvement in fire-escapes



1. GEBKEN.

Fire-Espapes.

N0,48,35Q, Patented March 10,1874.A

WITHESSES: NVE TUR UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GERKEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,35), dated March l0, 1874; application tiled To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GERKEN, ot' the city, county, and State oi' New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a specification:

The ligure is a detail view of' my improved device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved device for lowering persons and things from the upper parts of buildings when it may be necessary on account of re or other cause. rIhe invention consists in the block having three holes formed in it, the rope-loop, the eyelet, and the hook, constructed and arranged to operate in connection with the rope passed through the said holes, as hereinafter fully described. y

Ais a circular block of wood, in the face of which is formed a groove to receive a rope-loop or eye, I3, which is made larger than the block A, so as to also pass around a metallic eyelet, C. The loop B is drawn together between the block A and eyelet C by tying a small cord around it, as shown in the figure, so as to confine it securely to said block and eyelet. l) is a hook, through the eye of which the eyelet O passes, and which is designed to receive the strap, cord, or chain by which the person or thing to be lowered is connected to the device. In the block A are formed three holes, a', through which a rope, E, is passed, as shown Jan nary 31, 1874.

l in theligu'rc. The edges of the holes a', through which the rope E passes, are beveled off upon the sides, against which the said ropebears to prevent said edges from cutting the rope.

ln using the device, one end of the rope E is secured in the room from which the person or thing is to loe lowered. The device A B O D is then passed out of the Window, and the person or thing to be lowered is connected with the hook I). The person being lowered, or some one upon the ground, either directly beneath the window or across the street, or in a lower window of another building, grasps the rope E, and, by holding it tightly, allows the block A to slide down the said rope, lowering the person or thing slowly and safely, a slight tightening ofthe rope E being sufficient, at any time, to stop the block A in its descent.

When one load has been lowered, the block A may be drawn upfand the rope E drawn back through the holes a', and the device is ready for lowering another load.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iat- Witnesses y J AMES T. GRAHAM, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

